DIMAPUR, MARCH 12 (MExN): The permanent campus of the North East Christian University (NECU) was formally dedicated by KC Momin, President of Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI) on March 10, about 3.5 kms from the main highway of Medziphema town.
The campus was inaugurated in the presence of Deo Nukhu, Parliamentary Secretary of Higher and Technical Education.
Rev. Dr. AK Lama, PRO Chancellor of NECU while sharing the NECU vision said that when he joined CBCNEI as the General Secretary in 2008, he felt the need for churches to come together and turn the spiritual fellowship into a collaborative educational adventure.
He went on to add that despite having many academically qualified persons and resources in the NE region, the region has been dependent on outside institutions for accreditation, academic guidance and for various resources. He also said there is not only financial drain but under utilisation of human resources in the region.
In order to begin the collaborative effort of the educational institution, he invited the principals of 8 seminaries under CBCNEI to share the challenges and explore possibilities. He also felt that the time was right for all the churches to unite under the umbrella of one Baptist University.
The proposal, he informed, was warmly received by the expert committee of CBCNEI and was recommended to the 60th Annual General Convention at William Nagar on April 2010 where it was unanimously approved. Consequently, consultations of key leaders of CBCNEI as well as other experts were held at Shalom Bible Seminary, Zubza in 2010, where it was unanimously agreed to name this University as NECU.
Alemtemshi Jamir, retired Chief Secretary and also the member of the Governing Council, NECU, while presenting a perspective of the NECU Campus Development, referred to the comments made by the Chairman of Medziphema village that the if NECU develops Medziphema will also develop.
He meanwhile asked the gathering to evolve their own perspective regarding what one can contribute in terms of ideas and conceptions. This university, he said will incorporate a bottom up and democratic approach. He meanwhile stated that there is not one large designed campus in the North East which stands out as a truly innovative. A great opportunity presents itself, therefore, to develope the NECU campus, he said.
Jamir said that the broad objectives of the campus design would be to adopt critical Environmental Design criteria as an essential parameter, to ensure environment - sensitive design of all built spaces, to encourage the use of traditional materials and skills in the development process and also to create an atmosphere of harmony in a campus that is uniquely North - Eastern.
He further suggested that since the NECU campus is set in pristine surroundings, some environmental principles will guide the overall character of the NECU campus by adopting planning methods sensitive to the nature of the site, preserving the natural assets of the campus (Hillocks, streams, flora), and also adopting an Ecological Plan to protect as well as rejuvenate it's natural environment.
Deo Nukhu, Parliamentary Secretary of Higher and Technical Education said that his dream is to see the NECU University turning into one of the best in the world. He meanwhile lamented that in India most of the theological students are facing huge difficulty as they are not getting scholarship and they are highly deprived.
Recalling his recent visit to Delhi, Nukhu said that he met Joint Secretary of Minority Affairs, who had assured provision of scholarship from the Minority Affairs to the students who could not avail the scholarship from UGC. He reminded that the Naga theological students can obtain the form from the website of Minority Affairs or they can also obtain it from the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Kohima.
